The JU Botanic Garden has long been visited by the patients from the nearby clinics, seeking refuge from the reality of hospital life and by the therapeutic groups, like the ones from psychiatric hospitals. It thus seems natural, that the St. Louis Children's Hospital in Strzelecka Street in Krakow has decided to use the Garden for therapeutic purposes.    

Hortitherapy follows the Hippocratic idea that "nature heals". The world of plants, which provides peace, calm and contact with beauty, may be of great help not only in mental, but also in physical rehabilitation. The great variety of shapes, colours and smells activates all the senses, both these which function well, and those which need improvement. For instance, moving hand to touch the plant, hold it and feel its structure turns out to be an excellent exercise for the muscles, and a source of great joy for the child at the same time. The plants themselves seem to suggest the ways in which they can be used for therapy.

Another method of hortitherapy consists in engaging patients in simple gardening works, such as mixing soil, planting different types of plants and watering them. These activities are conducted with the help and under the supervision of the medical staff. The members of the botanic garden staff are also present, providing useful assistance in exploring the fascinating world of plants.   

The sessions have another very important aspect: the therapeutic value for the parents and guardians of the child patients. During the sessions, when their children are taken care of by the medical staff, they can relax contemplating the beauty of plants and talk to the hospital psychologist.

Besides, the JU Botanic Garden is a wonderful place for other methods of therapy, such as art therapy, music therapy, and floristic workshops with the use of the plants grown there.

The pilot hortitherapy sessions in the JU Botanic Garden, organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Horticulture of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, show the potential of the unique and beautiful form of therapy which complements conventional treatment. The smiling faces of young patients are the best proof of its appropriateness.